MICDS Holiday Tournament: Saturday Standouts (Underclassmen)
There were some very talented young players on hand at the second day of the MICDS Holiday Tournament. Here is look at some of the Class of 2020 and 2021 players who performed well on Saturday.
Sam Thompson 6’8″ Francis Howell: The 2021 forward had a breakout game with 14 points in the first-round victory over MICDS. He did a nice job of getting post position and he flashed a nice shooting touch in the lane and out to 12 feet. He has good skills and a good feel for the game. He also showcased some shot blocking ability with good timing without fouling. He’s young, so he has to get stronger, but he has a nice future.
Darian Smith 6’3″ MICDS: A powerhouse 2020 forward who had 14 points and 13 rebounds in the loss to Francis Howell. He is strong and athletic and he plays with a very high motor. He’s strong around the basket and he also has a nice jumper from out to 15 feet, making him a tough matchup for taller defenders. Smith is also a dynamic shot blocker who had three swats in a 45-second sequence.
Matt Schark 6’3″ Francis Howell: A physical 2020 power forward who scored 14 points in the victory over MICDS. He is a solid no-nonsense player who gets great position and can score around the basket. He was more of a Stretch 4 who can shoot 3-pointers as a freshman, but he’s doing most of his work in the paint this season. He also displayed some nice handles on one possession to free himself up for a basket off the drive.
Ryan Kalkbrenner 6’10” Trinity: The improving 2020 center had close to a double-double in the Titans’ victory over Miller Career Academy. He does an excellent job of taking advantage of his size as he does a good job of keeping the ball high and finishing off the glass. As the biggest player, he gets his share of physical pounding, but he will handle it better with added strength and time in the weight room. He has grown since his sophomore year and his game as made positive strides in a year’s time.
Rashad McDaniels 6’0″ Trinity: A powerful combo guard who is one of the more talented players in the Class of 2020 when he is on his game. He has a versatile skill set as a scorer with his ability to knock down 3-pointers to go along with his ability to create space for jumpers and play bully ball to get to the basket. He probably needs to be a little more assertive to take advantage of his numerous skills.